Viewlands Elementary students collecting food for Holiday Food Boxes for students in need

Students at Viewlands Elementary, 10525 3rd Ave. NW, are collecting food in each classroom and partnering with Hunger Intervention Program (HIP) and local businesses to create Holiday Food Boxes for fellow students in need. Participating businesses include Starbucks, QFC, and Lenny’s Produce Market.

The students will pack up the boxes on Nov. 14; the boxes will be distributed to students in need before Thanksgiving.

“The Hunger Intervention Program is pleased to support Viewlands Elementary and hopes to offer weekly food support to students in 2013 through our Healthy HIP Packs program,” Kate Murphy, HIP Program Manager, said in a press release. “The Healthy HIP Packs program provides food when children need it most – on the weekends when the safety net of school meals is not available. The packs provide nutritious and kid-friendly foods sufficient for six meals and two snacks per child.”

According to the press release, one in four Washington children live in households where families are struggling to make ends meet; and Viewlands Elementary has one of the highest free and reduced price school meal participation rates in North Seattle.